Suffolk Living May-June 2021 by Suffolk News-Herald

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Soaring to new heights ON POINTE AND IN PLANES

may/june 2021 • vol. 12, no. 3

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SATURDAYS 9AM-1PM through NOV 20 Suffolk Visitor Center

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FEATURE

Ayana Johnson is a multi-talented dancer, violinist, pageant contestant and advocate for other young people with chronic illnesses.

CONTENTS may - june | 2021 15

WHERE AM I? | Think you know Suffolk well? Then see if you can identify this photo.

Advertising rates and information available upon request. Subscriptions are $20 annually in-state; $25 annually out-of-state; $30 for international subscriptions. Please make checks payable to Suffolk Publications, LLC P.O. Box 1220, Suffolk, VA 23439

12 In the News

The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and Eastern Shore broke ground on a Western Tidewater hub.

ON THE COVER suffolklivingmag.com

The Nansemonds

16 The Nansemond Indian Nation has made great strides in the three years since federal recognition.

Soaring to new heights ON POINTE AND IN PLANES

may/june 2021 • vol. 12, no. 3

Photo by Jen Jaqua

editor's note may - june

2021

Soaring to new heights

EDITORIAL Tracy Agnew Editor

Jen Jaqua Photographer Jimmy LaRoue Writer Rachel Wartian Writer news@suffolklivingmag.com

ADVERTISING

Earl Jones Marketing Consultant Lindsay Richardson Marketing Consultant Amanda Gwaltney Marketing Consultant Dana Snow Marketing Consultant sales@suffolklivingmag.com

PRODUCTION Troy Cooper Designer

Spring is here again, and the air is balmy and full of the fragrance of flowers — and pollen. Likewise, we have an edition chock-full of local features for you to enjoy as you sit outside and enjoy this beautiful weather. One thing you typically wouldn’t see talked about in a lifestyle magazine is garbage. Alfred “Bubba” Copeland has been a trash collector for more than 20 years, and he and his colleagues embody the “Stronger Together” theme of this year’s Public Works Awareness Week, set for May 16-22. Readers will learn about why it’s more than just a job to Copeland and his colleagues. A guest writer this time, Patrick Belcher, takes us inside the new Mod Olive restaurant for a look at its decor, which includes quite a few old copies of LIFE magazine. He examines how no matter what decade it is, the news seems to stay pretty much the same. Gary Wiley is a recreational pilot who volunteers his time to show young people the joy of flying. He recounts about 320 children he has taken up in an airplane cockpit — and a surprising number of them have become pilots. Speaking of young people soaring to new heights, Ayana Johnson soars in dance, in violin, in advocacy — and she uses pageantry as a platform for her advocacy in particular. You can read about our cover feature on page 22. The Nansemond Indian Nation has accomplished a lot since earning federal recognition just a little over three years ago. You can find out more about the Nansemonds now on page 16. We’re always looking for your contributions to Suffolk Living Magazine. Please submit story ideas, On Vacation photos, portfolios of photography for Through the Lens consideration, guesses for the Where Am I? feature and any other suggestions you have to news@ suffolklivingmag.com.

ADMINISTRATION Betty J. Ramsey Publisher

God bless, Tracy Agnew, Editor

Hope Rose Production

Suffolk Living is published six times per year by Suffolk Publications, LLC. P.O. Box 1220, Suffolk, VA 23439 www.suffolklivingmag.com • (757) 539-3437

suffolk living 7

Downtown Suffolk 102 Western Ave Suffolk, VA 23434 757.539.7695

Harbour View

5837 Harbour View Blvd Suffolk, VA 23435 757.686.3636 www.howell.dental Ralph L. Howell, Jr., DDS I R. Leroy Howell, Sr., DDS C. Danielle Howell, DDS I Melissa L. Campbell, DMD

8 suffolk living

what to do Send us your news To submit your calendar or news item, simply email it to: news@suffolklivingmag.com

ONGOING

The Suffolk Art League will hold its annual Open Members’ Show at the Suffolk Art Gallery, 118 Bosley Ave. The show will be on view from May 21 to July 2. This exhibit gives all current Suffolk Art League members, working in any medium, an opportunity to exhibit their work. Space in the show is filled on a first-come, first-

Amazing Peanut Chase! JUNE 12

Think you know every nook and cranny in Suffolk? Come prove it at the library's sixth annual Amazing Peanut Chase! This year's city-wide scavenger hunt will have you road-tripping all over town solving clues. Form your team and prepare for a day full of fun and adventure. Registration is free but required. The event lasts from 1 to 3 p.m. and begins at Morgan Memorial Library, 443 W. Washington St. Call 757-5147323.

served basis. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Call 757-925-0448 for more information. MAY 22

An official Virginia Civil War Trail site, Cedar Hill Cemetery has long been an attraction for history buffs and even

walking groups. The Suffolk Division of Tourism offers a guided stroll through the pleasant 32-acre cemetery, rich in history and natural beauty. The 75-minute daytime tour from 4 to 5:30 will offer unique insights into Suffolk’s heritage as tour goers traverse the cedar-lined terrain dotted with timeworn headstones. Reservations are required and

suffolk living 9

what to do cancellations are expected no less than 48 hours prior to scheduled tour. Call the Suffolk Visitor Center at 757-514-4130 to reserve your spot. Participants will meet under the Suffolk Visitor Center Pavilion.

The talented cast includes Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Chloe Grace Moretz, Finn Wolfhard, and Nick Kroll. This film is rated PG and has a running time of 86 minutes. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

JUNE 13

The Suffolk Division of Tourism, in partnership with the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, will present “The Addams Family” at the Suffolk Center, 110 W. Finney Ave., on June 13, beginning at 2 p.m. Admission is $1 per person; please note that only 100 seats may be reserved in order to allow for social distancing in the 530-seat Birdsong Theater. The eccentrically macabre family, led by Gomez and Morticia Addams, lives in a derelict asylum in New Jersey, surrounded by a marsh and hidden by a fog at the top of a mountain. When hostile and conformist reality show host Margaux Needler wants to build the planned community of Assimilation nearby, the Addams home is revealed…leading Margaux to try to get rid of the Addams Family once and for all.

JULY 8

Join the Suffolk Art Gallery, the Suffolk Art League, and host Nathan Richardson for this spoken word event. Poets, writers, musicians, spoken word, and more are welcome at the gallery, 118 Bosley Ave. Present your own original works or favorites by others. Not a writer or musician? Come listen to others, enjoy a slice of pizza from Al Forno Pizzeria, and visit the gallery in a relaxed, open and comfortable environment from 6 to 8 p.m. Space restrictions and registration requirements will be determined based on COVID-19 guidelines at the time of the event. Call 757-514-7284.

JULY 11

The Suffolk Division of Tourism, in partnership with the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, will present “The Secret Life of Pets 2” at the Suffolk Center, 110 W. Finney Ave., on July 11, beginning at 2 p.m. Admission is $1 per person; please note that only 100 seats may be reserved in order to allow for social distancing in the 530-seat Birdsong Theater. The adventures of Max and his pet friends continues! Max faces some major changes after his owner Katie gets married and now has a child. On a family trip to the countryside, Max meets a farm dog named Rooster, and both attempt to overcome his fears. Meanwhile, Gidget tries to rescue Max’s favorite toy from a cat-packed apartment, and Snowball sets on a mission to free a white tiger named Hu from a circus. The talented cast includes Patton Oswalt, Kevin Hart, Harrison Ford, Tiffany Haddish and Eric Stonestreet. This film is rated PG and has a running time of 86 minutes. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

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in the news

Foodbank, Franklin, Obici Healthcare Foundation and church leaders participate Wednesday, April 14, in the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore’s groundbreaking ceremony for its new Western Tidewater Branch and Community Produce Hub in Franklin. Pictured are, from left, Celebration Church Lead Pastor/ Founder Anthony Rawlings, First Baptist Church (Franklin) Rev. Marcus Jennings, retired Virginia 5th Judicial District Judge Alfreda Talton-Harris, Obici Healthcare Foundation CEO Annette Beuchler, Obici Healthcare Foundation Program Officer Sarah Taylor, Franklin City Manager Amanda Jarratt, Franklin Mayor Frank Rabil, Franklin City Ward 4 Councilman Linwood Johnson, Foodbank President and CEO Dr. Ruth Jones Nichols, Foodbank Board Chair Kevin X. Jones, Foodbank Immediate Past President Paul Finch, Foodbank Board Member Darius Davenport, Foodbank Western Tidewater Branch Manager Clifford Hedgspeth Sr. and Foodbank Western Tidewater Branch Regional Outreach Coordinator Teri Zurfluh.

Foodbank breaks ground on new branch, hub

Story and Photos by Ttius Mohler

The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Western Tidewater Branch and Community Produce Hub in Franklin on April 14. Currently operating out of Franklin’s Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, the Western Tidewater Branch and Community Produce Hub for Foodbank will have a permanent home at 618 South St. in Franklin, where operations could begin as early as this fall. The branch and hub serve families facing food insecurity in Franklin, Isle of Wight County, Southampton County, Suffolk and Sussex. Leaders with the Foodbank, the City of

Franklin, First Baptist Church and Obici Healthcare Foundation attended the April 14 ceremony with community stakeholders and representatives from other partner agencies. Some of the leaders first shared remarks at the Hayden Village Gymnasium before traveling with everyone else to 618 South St. for the groundbreaking ceremony and a brief tour of the building. Multiple speakers credited the leadership of Dr. Ruth Jones Nichols, president and CEO of Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, for helping usher the project forward, keeping it on schedule even amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We expect the Community Produce Hub — to include the marketplace and the cafe — to be up and running by the fall,” she said. “We’re in the process now of selecting a general contractor who will begin their work within the next 30 days, ideally.” The permanent branch and hub will feature, in addition to the marketplace and cafe, a commercial/community kitchen that Jones Nichols said should be able to provide about 2,000 meals per day, conference rooms, offices and a warehouse/distribution center for partner agencies in Western Tidewater to access food conveniently. Classes and workshops will be held in the building to provide resources

suffolk living 11 for addressing root causes of food insecurity. She said Foodbank knew when it created its new strategic plan in 2017 that it wanted to do more in the Western Tidewater community. “When Obici Healthcare Foundation awarded our organization a $300,000 grant, we made the commitment then to establish a permanent presence by 2022,” she said. “So we’ve been right on target for meeting that goal even in the midst of the pandemic. The pandemic is obviously slowing things down a bit with contractors, getting equipment, getting things approved, but we know by March of 2022 this entire building will be fully operational.” Annette Beuchler, CEO of Obici Healthcare Foundation, said the new branch and hub were much needed. “One of the things we learned several

years ago when we did a health needs assessment was that food insecurity in our entire service area was about 19-20% of our population,” she said. “Then when you look at access to food, not just healthy food but access in general, it goes up to 30%. When you look in the City of Franklin, Southampton County itself, it’s 35%. “And so this is definitely the right project and the right place and obviously with the right partners, because you guys have done quite an amazing job.” Franklin Ward 4 Councilman Linwood Johnson, who was part of the new branch and hub project from the start, described Wednesday’s ceremony as a monumental occasion. “We’re all excited because we’re all a part of this partnership, developing success, making history together,” he said. “It will be one of the greatest things that has happened in the city for our citizens.”

Alfreda Talton-Harris spoke Wednesday not as a retired judge from the Virginia 5th Judicial District but as a member of First Baptist. “I’m coming with mixed emotions, so I have to work through it — 618 South St. is our baby,” she said. “When I say ‘our’ baby, I mean First Baptist Church. “The vision is not to transform a building, but the vision is to transform lives,” she said. “So when we were approached, we weren’t looking to get rid of our baby. Dr. Ruth Jones Nichols and the infinite God apparently had another plan.” Kevin X. Jones, board chair of Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, encouraged Talton-Harris after she had concluded her comments. “I can tell you from the depths of everything I know about Team Foodbank, you’re going to realize that vision and that dream,” he said.

Clifford Hedgspeth Sr., of Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, gives people a tour of the interior of what will be the permanent location of Foodbanks’ Western Tidewater Branch and Community Produce Hub in Franklin. Hedgspeth is manager of the branch.

12 suffolk living

a day in the life

Can’t refuse the refuse Story by Jimmy LaRoue Photos by Jimmy LaRoue & Submitted

f you see Bubba in his truck, give him a wave, a wide berth and enough space between your trash cans, please. From the time Alfred “Bubba” Copeland picks up his refuse truck at 6 a.m. until the time he finishes his route at least 10 hours later, he will have collected trash from more than 1,200 Suffolk homes and made at least two trips to the regional landfill off of U.S. Route 58. But that 10 hours can be a best guess on some days, too, since there’s no refusing the refuse if he’s not finished in that time span. If traffic’s heavy, or there’s extra trash to be collected, or another truck on another route breaks down, it’s all got to get in the truck and to the landfill before the end of his shift. And with the specific maneuvering he has to do, there’s no time for looking back. Literally. Though Copeland sees everything behind him, he doesn’t turn and look back at them, instead, he relies primarily on the multiple side mirrors he has, and occasionally, the video monitor which shows a camera view behind him. It’s one thing while driving to occasionally turn one’s head to check a blind spot before passing someone on the highway. But imagine having to do that thousands of times per day along his route. If Copeland did that, he would have to keep a ready supply of ibuprofen in his truck for the sore neck he would have. “I always learned on my mirror,” Copeland said. “If I’ve got to turn my head the whole day, it’s going to hurt my neck.” On a pleasant spring morning, Copeland was collecting trash in the posh neighborhood The Riverfront at Harbour View in North Suffolk. While the job is very much routine and can be monotonous, Copeland has to account for a number of things throughout the day — chief among them keeping an eye for children in the neighborhoods he drives through and aligning his truck’s forks with the cans so it can grab and lift them to the top of the truck and dump the trash in it. By 11 a.m., Copeland has already filled up his truck, emptied it at the Southeastern Public Service Authority’s regional landfill — which is at least an hour-long process coming from the northern reaches of the city — and, after cleaning out his truck, is back for a second round. That load was among the more than 13,000 tons of Suffolk trash taken there and to the John C. Holland landfill in the first four months of this year. If he doesn’t clean it out, trash will build up around the blade and affect how well he can See REFUSE page 14

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14 suffolk living REFUSE continued from page 12

compact it. If there is too much buildup, Copeland has to get inside the truck to clean it, something he would prefer not to do. He answers this question before it’s asked: No, he has never had a dead body in his truck. He has seen dead animals, though, and he and his truck appeared briefly in a locally-filmed movie. As he stops at each home, he explains how he has to position the truck around potential obstacles that can make the trash collection more difficult. In one instance, Copeland, whose driver’s seat is on the right side of the truck, had just a few feet between his truck and a vehicle parked in front of a home. In a few other instances, he had cans that were too close to one another. Cans are supposed to be positioned a socially-distanced six feet apart; some, though, will be as close as six inches. While not impossible to grab the cans automatically, it leaves little margin

for error. “If they’ve got something in the way, I’ve got to put the truck in a position in which I can get the can,” Copeland said. “I can’t just pull up at a certain spot, because each can is different. Each customer has a certain way to set it out.” Factoring in all of these things, Copeland is in no hurry. “You have to keep in mind that you have to be safe,” Copeland said. “You don’t want to get to the point where you’re trying to rush through. I’d rather than be slower, and safe, than to be fast.” Copeland, a Suffolk High School graduate, says he is thankful for his job, having come from a series of retail and warehousing jobs. He had not intended on becoming a driver, but when afforded the opportunity, he decided to get his commercial driver’s license. He’s driven in many trucks over the years, but his current one is special. In it is a plaque that reads, “This Unit Ordered for

Alfred ‘Bubba’ Copeland by Carlos Ward Sr.” It’s something that motivates Copeland. Ward, like Copeland, graduated from Suffolk High School and worked with him in the city’s Public Works Department. Ward served in many capacities over his 31 years, eventually becoming assistant director in 2019 before he died late last year. “I got choked up because Carlos had died,” Copeland said. “But they thought enough of me to get together and come up with this little gesture right here.” One piece of advice Copeland got early on in his career has resonated and stuck with him: Always approach the job like it’s your first day. It took him about two weeks to learn how to drive the truck. Now more than 20 years into it, Copeland still finds it challenging amidst the routine, but it’s a profession Copeland finds honor in. “It’s a job that people look down on because it’s trash,” Copeland said, “but can you imagine this not getting collected?”

suffolk living 15

where am I?

n each edition the Suffolk Living staff provides a challenge of sorts, testing how much of Suffolk you really know. We photograph some location in Suffolk that is readily accessible and open to the public, and see if you can tell us where it is. If you know where this photo was taken, submit your answer, along with your name and contact information to news@suffolklivingmag. com. If you’re right, you will be entered for a chance to win a $25 gift card. So, if you know where this is, let us know. If you’re right, you could be a winner. Go out and enjoy Suffolk!

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The Nansemond Indian Nation holds an opening ceremony at the beginning of its annual powwow.

The Nansemonds Now

STORY BY PHYLLIS SPEIDELL PHOTOS BY JOHN H. SHEALLY II

Three years after the Nansemond Indians received federal recognition, the tribe, now officially the Nansemond Indian Nation, continues to gain momentum. But beyond a name change, what does federal recognition mean? How does it benefit the tribe that pushed so long and hard to gain that acknowledgement? According to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, a federally recognized tribe, as a sovereign entity, has a government-to-government relationship with the United States and is eligible for certain federal funding, services and protections. Currently there are 574 recognized American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages. As to what that means for the Nansemonds, Chief Earl Bass is happy to share a long list of

strides — almost all enabled by federal recognition — the tribe is taking now in community interaction as well as tribal development and support. While some other Virginia tribes have announced proposals to develop casinos and entertainment venues, the Nansemonds, Hampton Roads’ only surviving indigenous tribe, focus on cooperative educational and environmental community projects as well as programs to improve the quality of life for tribal members. Earl Bass, who previously served as chief of the Nansemonds, was persuaded to return to the position and voted in by the tribal council, starting his current term in January 2021. Keith Anderson, a retired administrator with Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation, serves

as assistant chief and environmental program director. “At the first meeting between the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the six Virginia tribes who recently received federal recognition, we were told to open our mouths wide as the information was going to come at us like a fire hose,” Bass said. “They were right. The amount of information was mind-blowing, so much to digest.” “As a former chief, I had just gotten to where I was sleeping well at nights,” Bass added. “Now, as chief, my head hits the pillow and tribal business starts running through my mind.” Bass and his wife, Loleta, a retired nurse, were surprised at the flood of paperwork, meetings and opportunities. Loleta understatSee NANSEMOND page 17

suffolk living 17 NANSEMOND continued from page 16

ed their lifestyle now with an emphatic “busy!” Finding their way through a bureaucratic maze of government and non-profit organization grants and programs enabled the Nansemonds to accomplish many of the goals they, for years, had hoped to achieve. Tribal officials combed the membership rosters, attempting to contact long-missing members, sorting out the deceased and opening membership to families of tribal members. Currently the Nansemonds number 409 individuals. Through the HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) Native American program, the tribe was eligible for annual grants enabling them to buy and renovate three townhouses in the Westhaven section of Portsmouth. The homes shelter tribal members in need of housing or are rented to generate income. Rental and mortgage down payment assistance programs may be in the future as well for tribal members. The Nansemonds purchased 17 acres on Route 17 in North Suffolk to potentially use

as a meeting place, a clinic, or as housing for tribal members. Through the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act, the tribe was able to furnish computers and hot spots to members who needed them to continue their education. Through the Indian Health Service of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the tribe now can assist members with doctors’ visits, prescriptions and some other medical costs. That program also enabled the tribe to provide COVID-19 vaccinations for 100 members as well as some members of the community. The tribe, always active environmentally, is working to restore the oyster beds in the Nansemond River and, also, according to Anderson, working with Ducks Unlimited and Dominion Energy to conserve 504 acres of land in Driver. The land will be given to the tribe who will, in turn, place it in a nature conservancy. Purchase and preservation of the historic

Indiana United Methodist Church in Bowers Hill, the spiritual home of the Nansemonds, is another future hope for the tribe. Already listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register, the property is under consideration by the National Park Service for the National Register of Historic Places. In 2019, the Nansemonds introduced the Firebird Festival, an annual public event created to share the Nansemond history, language and culture. The festival components are based on Virginia’s fourth-grade Standards of Learning guidelines and encourage children — and adults — to learn more about Native American heritage directly from the source. Bass and Anderson both stress that the tribe wants to nurture its cooperative relationship with the city of Suffolk via future programs, possibly at Lone Star Lakes Park, adjacent to the Nansemond replica village of Mattanock Town, and, ultimately, a Nansemond-sponsored community center open to the public. Mattanock Town sprang from a 2013 agreement between the tribe and the city of Suffolk See NANSEMONDS page 18

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At top, three townhouses in Portsmouth were purchased by the Nansemond Indian Nation. Middle, Indiana United Methodist Church, the spiritual home of the Nansemonds. Above, a home on the 17-acre parcel in North Suffolk purchased by the Nansemond Indian Nation.

to set aside 77 acres of city-owned land on the Nansemond River. The Nansemonds planned to develop a replica village and cultural museum there, where they have hosted their annual powwow for 30 years. If, after five years, the tribe’s plan was successful, the city agreed to deed the land over to the Nansemond Indian Nation. Since then, the tribe has cleared two and half miles of trails and built a pair of longhouse shelters typically used by early Nansemonds who lived in familial villages along the river. They remodeled the existing lodge building on the property and set up a food bank for tribe members. Start-up funds from the federal recognition enabled them to buy a 12-person van and buy and equip a modular building to use as an office. To install Wi-Fi in Mattanock, the tribe paid to have the internet access brought down Pembroke Lane from Route 10, benefiting residents along the lane as well. There is much more, Bass and Anderson said, that can be done for See NANSEMOND page 19

suffolk living 19 NANSEMOND continued from page 18

the tribe — and the city — with funding that federal recognition generates. The Bureau of Indian Affairs has a highway department that will provide up to five miles of entry road to Mattanock from Route 10 as well as other roads on the property. The tribe wants to create a canoe/kayak landing on Cedar

Creek on the Mattanock property as well — a project that could be funded by the CARES Act. According to Bass, however, those newer projects require that the Nansemond Indian Nation hold the deed to the Mattanock property. Three years after the original

five-year deadline, the tribe continues to make significant progress in developing that property. Bass, Anderson and the rest of the Nansemond Indian Nation remain hopeful that the city will see its way clear to convey the Mattanock property to the Nansemond Indian Nation.

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Life is cyclical 20 suffolk living

Story and Photos by Patrick Belcher

s I walked into the Mod Olive, the retro feel of the atmosphere struck me. The green and orange wallpaper, the hard rectangular couches, old cigarette machine in the corner, and the open bookcase as you walk in. On the retro bookcase, my eyes are immediately drawn to a magazine cover with a dark sphere with neon spikes all over it. I thought I was looking at the coronavirus; however, the date on the LIFE magazine cover was from 1966. As I sat down, I took the magazine with me to read. The opening line of the cover story described the cover as a “Communication satellite glowing with nuclear energy.” It ended up that the sphere on the cover was influenza, and the cover story was all about the differences of viruses from bacteria, the value of vaccines, the body’s ability to create antibodies when exposed and the importance of remaining clean. I could have been reading a modern-day article about COVID-19. The only difference was that they did not try to explain anything in 140 characters or less. The use of words to impress the reader was abundant in every article. As I perused the other articles in the magazine, as much as I was walking back in time, I was reading about modern-day issues. There was an article about inequity in the workplace headlined “Jim Crow in Unions.” There was a featurette about Barbara Walters and the impact she was having in broadcast news. She was twice as good a writer, but still working twice as hard than her male counterparts, especially now she was in front of the camera. Barbara sums it up by saying, “Either you can be the nice girl reporter who doesn’t offend anybody, or you do what you can and everybody doesn’t love you.” The article goes on to share how her days typically run from 4 a.m. to midnight. She speaks candidly about her anxiety of having children and whether

she can “have her cake and eat it too.” Finally, she discusses the challenges of a women’s role in the home versus a man’s, providing the example of still having to plan the menu for the week. As I ordered my French dip with Mediterranean pasta salad, I perused another issue. On the cover of this one was a bullet hole in a sheet of glass. In this issue were two current affairs topics — a mass shooting and the credibility gap. As President Johnson discussed the Vietnam War, there was discussion of whether America was getting the whole story. Many Americans were not satisfied with the explanation of the body count that came back from the war. To better understand this, the magazine sent a dozen reporters to a small town in Ohio to evaluate whether the “Credibility Gap” was real or just Washington spin from the Republican Party. As they

suffolk living 21 got beyond the concern over the “outsiders” in their town, the reporters were able to speak with family and friends of Pfc. Wuertz, a recent casualty of the war, who felt they had more questions than answers. Many of them offered this sentiment: “Any President has a lousy job. I think Johnson is doing the best he can. I wouldn’t know whom to put in his place.” Continuing through this issue, the cover story went into the details of a sniper shooting on a college campus in Texas. The story had several pictures from amateurs that had “cameras in their purse or car” as the author gave details about the 17 killed and 31 wounded. He shared the story of a man killed while trying to protect a young pregnant woman. Unfortunately, the lady went into labor and the child was stillborn. You turn the page and you are given a spread of the college campus with an overlay of where each person was shot over the 90-minute period before the sniper was killed. As I agonized over my choice between the apple cobbler or the tall cheesecake with fruit topping,, I grabbed one more issue featuring famous Brit Sean Connery on the cover. The cheesecake was more delicious than the lackluster article on the latest James Bond film, “Thunderball.” The article was critical of America’s fascination with the suave British secret agent and his debonair accent that distracted us along with the seductive moments, and futuristic gadgets that allowed Americans to ignore the unoriginal plot lines. This could have been an article trying to explain America’s fascination with Harry and Meghan and their family drama that could be found in any suburb. As I continued to flip the pages, I got to the real story: America’s interest in outer space. Gemini 6 and 7 were sharing their photos of circling the earth and passing each other in orbit. As much as we are entranced by the Mars Rover in today’s headlines, we were focused on the newness of space and the rivalry of an Army astronaut vs. a Navy astronaut, as one of the photos is of one of the orbiter’s windows with the message “Beat Army.” I retired to the couches in the seating area to finish my perusal. As much as the stories captured me, I chuckled at the ads. The Speedstick ad could have been one for Axe body spray. The makeup ads, I think I saw on Facebook this week, and let me not ignore Ma Bell encouraging households get a second line the same way Verizon wireless talks about how you can add phones to your plan. I was entranced by the relevance of the stories from 1966 in the modern-day culture. The terms may have evolved from the “Credibility Gap” to the less-tactful “Fake News.” The people involved may have changed as the headlines remain. as in “Mass Shooting” or “Space, the Final Frontier.” As good as Ed Beardsley’s food is filling and delicious, it is well worth the visit to the Mod Olive to view modern-day issues through the lens of another era. Reading the LIFE or Elks magazines may just spur a discussion around the table about a current headline.

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Motivated by advocacy Outstanding Teen titleholder treasures platform pageants give her Story by Tracy Agnew Photos by Jen Jaqua

elevision shows about pageants often portray them and their participants as bastions of superficiality, but for one local teen — Miss Piedmont Region Outstanding Teen, to be precise — nothing could be further from the truth. Ayana Johnson hopes to upgrade her title this summer and become Miss Virginia Outstanding Teen — but even more than that, she hopes simply to be able to spread her message of advocacy to people who have not yet heard. Her cause? Ayana, 14, has sickle cell disease, and she wants to bring attention to the cause of young people with sickle cell and other blood disorders and chronic illnesses. “I really started pageantry because of what I wanted

to spread awareness for,” she said. “I wanted to have a platform where even if I go to a pageant and I don’t necessarily win, just having the open floor to talk about causes that are important to me — I love just being able to have that platform to try to create a safer space for those types of people that might not fit the mold of ‘normalcy.’” Ayana, who has been dancing since the age of 3, does a dance for her talent during pageants. She most recently danced to “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” but is working on a new routine for her upcoming pageant. While she enjoys the dance, her favorite part of pageantry is the interview portion, she said. “I like to talk about why I’m competing and why See AYANA page 25

Ayana Johnson shows off two of her many talents at once — violin and dance. She is 14 years old and has been dancing since she was 3.

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suffolk living 25 AYANA continued from page 23

I want to win the title,” she said. “I always remember that’s my motive and why I really started.” The rising Nansemond River High School sophomore said she also enjoys showing that young women, and pageantry, can be about more than just outer beauty — although she stuns in a flowing yellow gown in the evening gown portions of competitions. It’s also about intelligence, passion for a cause, and being mentally strong, she said. “I want to show that to the judges,” she said. “I’m showing them that I have something that I’m passionate about and I want to share with other people.”

When she is old enough, Ayana hopes to compete for the title of Miss Virginia and then Miss America. “Miss America is one of the largest scholarship competitions in the entire world,” Ayana said. “Even our own Miss America, Camille Schrier, has over $70,000 in scholarships.” When she’s not doing pageantry, Ayana can often be found practicing her dance or violin or doing advocacy in the sickle cell community. She is a champion for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. She also spends time on social media building a safe community. “I’ve been using my social media in the best

way I can to create a community of people that feel safe talking about maybe a chronic illness or that they had a bad day or something,” she said. “People message me or comment on my stuff and tell me that whatever I posted really helps them, so that is another defining factor for me for why I do what I do and spread awareness for what I’m spreading awareness for.” Ayana can be found on Instagram at _Ayana_Lee_ or on Facebook by searching Ayana Johnson. Ayana is fundraising for her appearance in June in the Miss Virginia Outstanding Teen Pageant. Visit spot.fund/cz7FAa.

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Story and photos by Rachel Wartian

Gary Wiley turns the plane to head back to the Suffolk Executive Airport.

ost people get behind the wheel of a car before they get in the cockpit of an airplane, but kids in Suffolk have the opportunity to do just the opposite. The Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles program gives kids ranging from 8 to 17 years old a chance to learn more about aviation. Since its start in 1992, the program has flown over 2.2 million kids to introduce them to the world of flight. Gary Wiley is a Vietnam veteran and recreational pilot who is one of the 50,000 volunteers who donates his fuel and time to teach kids in Suffolk about flying. Since he started participating 17 years ago, Wiley has flown more than 320 kids. “It’s fun for me to fly the kids and share my passion with them,” said Wiley. “It’s really a neat idea. I enjoy doing it.” The program started as a response to a decline in pilots as many are reaching retirement age and there are not enough coming up to take their place. Thousands of pilots under the age of 40 can trace their love for flying back to participating in the Young Eagles program. Wiley himself knows of five of the hundreds he’s flown that have pur-

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sued a career as a pilot. During weekends that the weather looks favorable, Wiley makes a Facebook post inviting those interested to be a part of the Young Eagles. Being a free program, parents respond with interest and meet Wiley at his hangar at the Suffolk Executive Airport. “It was a new experience, and it was really fun,” said Jourdan Spears, a 13-year-old Young Eagle who rode with her mom and 9-year-old brother during their flight. When asked if she would do it again, she gave a definite yes. To start the lesson, Wiley shows the kids attending the different parts of his plane and what to check before taking off. He first drains

a bit of octane from his Cessna 170B into a bottle to check for water that may come in from rain or condensation. The octane has a blue dye in it so that the water can be visible. Next, he moves on to showing how the parts of the plane move and what that means in the air. The nose is also checked for bird nests and any tools that may have been left during the plane’s annual inspection. Wiley also checked the oil levels. “You can’t pull over on a cloud and park if you run low on oil,” he quipped. After the introduction to the plane, the Young Eagles load up into the four-seater

plane. Depending on how many Young Eagles sign up, multiple flights may occur, giving family members the chance to ride along. “I thought it was an amazing, great time,” said Datoya Spears, Jourdan’s mother. Once in the sky, Wiley pointed out landmarks of the area you can see on such a clear day. While only 600 feet in the air, Downtown Norfolk is visible, and once leveled out at 2,000 feet, the silhouette of the hotels on the Virginia Beach oceanfront can be seen on the horizon. The Cessna can go up to 13,000 feet, but for the Young Eagles, Wiley levels it out around 2,000. Once in the air at the desired height, the See EAGLES page 28

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Jourdan Jackson, Gary Wiley and Cameron Spears stand after awarding their Young Eagles certificates to remember their flight.

Above, Gary Wiley shows Jourdan Jackson and Cameron and Datoya Spears his second plane he takes for long-distance trips. Right, Gary Wiley shows the different parts of his Cessna 170B and how they work and what they do in the air to make the plane fly.

Young Eagle lucky enough to get the front seat can take their turn flying the plane. “It was fun but weird,” said Camoren Creech, a 13-year-old Young Eagle. In the backseat, Camoren’s dad, Jonathan Creech, got to ride along as Camoren got to fly during his first time, as Wiley calls it, “leaving planet Earth.” “It was pretty fun,” said Creech. “It’s an experience I haven’t had in 30-some years. I was too young to remember what it was like in a plane.” At the end of the flight, each Young Eagle gets a certificate for participating and the time put into a logbook. The certificate and logged time go towards obtaining a pilot’s license if the Young Eagle chooses to do so. Being a part of the program gives the students free access to an online pilot training course, made possible by Sporty’s Pilot Shops, located in Batavia, Ohio. For more information about the program, visit youngeagles.org.

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TAKING A TRIP?

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Last edition’s Where Am I?

suffolklivingmag.com

Last edition’s Where Am I? where am I? I challenge proved to be a popular one. It stands to reason, since the scene is quite visible from Route 10 in Chuckatuck. It is the Chuckatuck Trading Post. Lynne Parrish was randomly selected from all of our correct guesses and will receive a $25 gift card. Train your eagle eyes with this edition’s challenge on page15.

suffolklivingmag.com

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If you know where this photo was taken, submit your answer, along with your name and contact information to news@suffolklivingmag. com. If you’re right, you will be entered for a chance to win a $25 gift card.

Road Warriors KEEPING WARM AND CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY

Chicken Swap FOWL, FESTIVAL AND FUN TIMES AT RESPASS BEACH

Community Garden

So, if you know where this is, let us know. If you’re right, you could be a winner. Go out and enjoy Suffolk!

january/february 2019 • vol. 10, no. 1

september/october 2018 • vol. 9, no. 5

AND VOLUNTEERS THAT LOVE BOOKS may/june 2019 • vol. 10, no. 3

Read Suffolk Living Magazine

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COOL WEATHER: Awnings were closed or removed during cool weather once upon a time in downtown Suffolk. This scene shows Main Street looking north and features the City Hall/City Market building, with its large clock, which also held a bell for tolling the hour. —COURTESY “SUFFOLK IN VINTAGE POSTCARDS,” SUFFOLK-NANSEMOND HISTORICAL SOCIETY

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